The Baseline: Sixers contenders or pretenders
The Baseline wishes everybody a Happy New Year and good tidings as the NBA season climbs into a new decade. On this week’s show we discuss:
The Breakdown:
The Philadelphia 76’ers have become one of the most polarizing teams in the NBA. They possess the talent to contend but the will of a champion seems to be lacking. We analyze a team on the brink of contention and mediocrity at the same time.
- Can Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid become the most dominant duo in the league?
- With Tobias Harris, Josh Richardson and Al Horford rounding out the starting five do the pieces fit around Simmons and Embiid?
- The team lacks shooting and depth. Marcus Morris is a rumored target but maybe D.J. Augustin or one of their own in Marial Shayok would be a better fit.
- Is Elton Brand being pushed into a corner with a roster that is underachieving?
- Will they bounce back from their underwhelming start to still finish as one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference? Cal has his doubts but Warren remains optimistic having witnessed this pattern from the Sixers before.
Will they Reminisce
Some players find themselves out of the league unceremoniously…what happened to the likes of:
- Jamal Crawford
- JR Smith
- O.J. Mayo (Taiwan)
- Ty Lawson (China)
- Jeremy Lin (China)
- Lance Stephenson (China)
- Tyler Hansbrough (China)
- Greg Monroe (Germany)
- Nik Stauskas (Spain)
- Brandon Jennings (Russia)
Which one of these players is most likely to wind up back on an NBA roster?
Coast to Coast
- Andre Drummond trade talks heating up
- Darren Collison considering a return to the league with the Lakers or Clippers
- Kevin Love is exhibiting frustration in Cleveland
- Kyrie Irving speaks on his injury after 7-weeks of silence
- NBA All-Star voting first results reveal foreign players have all the sauce with Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo
- RIP to David Stern
